Magic and music to fill Tecumseh Center for the Arts

Thursday

Feb 7, 2013 at 4:00 PM

By David FrownfelderDaily Telegram Staff Writer

TECUMSEH — Jason Bishop, billed as “America’s Hottest Illusionist,” will bring his performance to the Tecumseh Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9. From his Double Levitation to his Op-Art and Plasma illusions, Bishop features state-of-the-art magic. Each show features sleight of hand, grand illusions and close-up magic projected onto a huge movie screen. The show is delivered with a healthy dose of humor, accompanied by a rock and pop soundtrack.

“People will see the largest touring illusion show in the U.S.,” Bishop said. “It’s a versatile show with close-up magic that we project onto a big screen, sleight of hands. We make people appear and disappear. It’s all a very modern approach.”

In 2007, Bishop was awarded magic’s prestigious “Jack Gwynne Award for Excellence in Presentation.” The previous year college campuses voted him the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities’ Best Performing Artist of the Year.

“I’ve been at it for 15 years and am working on it every day, every week. It is an ongoing thing,” he said. “I am always trying to improve. I look at this not as a destination, but a journey.”

Bishop’s interest in magic ran throughout his youth, truly taking shape in his mid-teens. In college, he studied theater and then went on the road, performing in streets and at resorts and amusement parks.

“I’ve always been drawn to those people who do a little something extra. I did a lot of stuff in school. I was a foster kid and my first show was a foster care Christmas party. I did about 10 to 15 minutes for an audience of about 50 foster care kids and workers,” he said. “I had unrealistic goals early on, lots of years of struggles. But I always said, ‘This will work.’ ”

Bishop enjoys many different illusionists, citing David Copperfield and Penn and Teller, among others, as favorites.

“People who are at the top are there because they are good,” he said. “I just enjoy watching magic.”

Tickets for The Jason Bishop Show are $26 for adults, $24 for seniors, and $20 for youth to 18 years.

To order tickets or for more information on any of the shows, contact the TCA, 400 N. Maumee St., call 423-6617, or go on-line at www.theTCA.org.

If you goWHAT: The Jason Bishop ShowWHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9.WHERE: Tecumseh Center for the Arts, 400 N. Maumee St.COST: $26 adult, $24 for seniors, $20 youth to 18BUY TICKETS: At the box office, by phone at 423-6617, or online at www.theTCA.org